The recently described Cyerce basi is common in the Marshalls, and we have observed specimens at Enewetak and Kwajalein Atolls. It lives under dead coral rocks on lagoon reefs at depths of 1-15 meters or tucked into Halimeda plants in lagoon algae patches, often in the same areas and even intermingled with the very similar Cyerce elegans. The most visible difference from C. elegans is the presence of thin white lines throughout the dorsal paddles. In some, like the first below, the lines are faint and difficult to see, suggesting an overlap between the two species. However, there are apparently molecular data and anatomical details that substantiate the split.
The next two photos show Majuro specimens photographed by Ken Cone.
The one below has much more heavily lined dorsal paddles than is typical.
Brown.
This one had lost its paddles, but it looks as though they are trying to grow back.
Created 19 July 2025